UK - SHOWING/JUDGING SYSTEMS

OVERVIEW

There several thousand dog shows held each year in the UK. The two most popular types are OPEN shows and CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWS. There are also Exemption shows (fun shows, usually held in support of a charity/good cause), Limited Shows (limited to members of the organising club). There are two types of Open and Championship shows. First type is GENERAL shows which offer classes for most of the 180 different breeds registered with the Kennel Club. Second type is BREED shows, just for a single breed. There are also GROUP shows, ie Hounds only, Toys only. Actually this is a good point to explain that dogs in the UK breeds are grouped into seven groups - TOY, UTILITY, HOUNDS, GUNDOGS, WORKING, PASTORAL and TERRIER. Open shows generally attract exhibitors within a 100 mile radius, and can vary from 100 classes up to several hundred classes, can be a single day or can be held over two/three days, most being a one day affair. Prize money (usually around £1 per class win) is often paid (cost of entry being £5 typically).

Typical numbers of Afghans entered at a General Open Show is 20ish, assuming 4/5 classes. For a Breed Open Show, entries will be higher around the 100 with perhaps 20 classes. All vary according to size, duration and location of show. Entries of Afghans at General or Breed Championship shows is currently around 250-300 Afghans over 20-25 classes. Prize money( 2-3 pounds) is sometimes paid at the General Championship shows, and the entry fee of £20.

JUDGES QUALIFICATIONS

Most Afghan Breed Clubs maintain a Judges list, typically two (poss three) levels, Junior and Senior. Junior can judge at open show level, Senior can award Challenge Certificates. The precise qualifications for accreditation vary, but generally subscribe to the following outline
(Following is the Saluki Or Gazelle Club;s Judging Criteria 1999)
KC Approved criteria for inclusion of judges on the Club list.

A1 List
For persons who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award CCs in the breed and have already done so. Person must have the support of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club.

A2 List
For persons who fulfil all the requirements of the A3List and have been assessed in accordance with Kennel Club requirements and accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 List. Persons must have the support of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club.

A3 (Breed Specialist)
Requirements for inclusion are:
1. Minimum of 7 years judging experience in Salukis and have the support of the SGHC (KC Policy).
2. 2. To have judged not less than 50 classes with a minimum of 150 (hands on).
3. To have judged a Saluki Club Breed show.
4. To have bred and or owned a minimum of 3 dogs when each dog obtained its first entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book (Save in exceptional circumstances).
5. To have attended a Breed Teaching seminar and an assessment Seminar for Salukis where they must have achieved the required Standard.
6. To have stewarded for a minimum period of 3 years and 12 shows (KC Policy)

A3 LIST(Non -Specialist)
1. Requirements for inclusion are:
2. To have judged 50 classes with a minimum of 150 Salukis (hands on)
3. To have awarded CCs in at least one other sighthound breed (KC Policy)
4. To have bred and/or owned a minimum of 3 dogs of any breed when each dog obtained its first entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book (Save in exceptional circumstances).
5. To have attended a Saluki Breed Teaching Seminar and an assessment Seminar at which they achieved the required Standard.
6. To have stewarded for a minimum period of 3 years and at 12 shows (KC Policy)

B List (Breed Specialist)
1. To have owned, co-owned or lived with and exhibited Salukis for 5 years before starting to judge the breed and to have support of the SGHC.
2. To have judged Salukis for at least 3 years.
3. To have attended at least 1 Saluki Breed Seminar
4. To have judged not less than 12 classes of Salukis at Limited or Open Shows with a minimum of 40 Salukis (hands on).

B List ( Non Specialist)
Requirements for inclusion are:
1. Minimum of 5 years judging in any breed and have the support of SGHC.
2. To have judged not less than 12 classes of Salukis at Limited, Open or Ch Shows without CCs with a minimum of 40 Salukis (hands on)
3. To have attended at least 1 Saluki Breed Seminar.

C List
1. Must have been associated with Salukis for 5 years
2. To have attended at least 1 Saluki Breed Teaching Seminar

C List ( Non Specialist)
Requirements for inclusion are:
1. To have stewarded Saluki classes at shows of any level.
2. To have attended at least one Saluki Breed Teaching Seminar.
3. Must have judge other sighthound breeds for at least 5 years.

Judges From Abroad
To be considered they must provide details of their experience in judging Salukis and evidence that they hold a license to judge Salukis in their own Country. The Committee of the SGHC will consider adding their name tot he list appropriate to their experience.

Most of the (Afghans) judging (perhaps 80%) is undertaken by Breed Specialists, with perhaps 15% being undertaken by All Rounders (qualified to award CC's in several breeds), and perhaps 5% undertaken by Overseas Judges.

CHAMPIONS

To gain the title of UK Champion, the Afghan has to win three Challenge Certificates (CC) under three different judges. Not quite as easy as it seems. At a show there are typically 300 Afghans entered (say 150/150 dogs/bitches). First the Afghan has to win his class (there are around a dozen different classes - Puppy classes, Junior, Yearling, Graduate, Post Graduate, Limit, Open, Veteran etc (actually more classes exist but these the most common). Open class may contain several champions which you have to beat just to win your class. After all the classes have been judged, the class winners are lined up and the best dog gets the CC. The second best dog gets a Reserve CC, (which does not count towards the championship). Same routine for the bitches. After this the best dog and bitch compete for Best Of Breed, (which also does not count towards championship). There are around 10-15 new champions made up each year. In the 70 years the Afghan has enjoyed Championship Status in the UK there have been around 600 Champions made up. Thus the UK title of Champion is highly prized.

OTHER AWARDS/QUALIFIERS ETC

Crufts is the ONLY show in the UK where the exhibits have to QUALIFY for entry. Typically this is achieved by winning a 1st/2nd (sometimes also 3rd) place in certain classes only at Championship Shows. Winning a Reserve CC earns a UK KC Stud Book entry (KC allocate a stud book number to the Afghan), currently this qualifies the Afghan for entry at Crufts. Again over the 70 years history, about 3000 Afghans have gained a stud book, so even this is a fair achievement. The final award to mention is the Junior Warrent (JW). The JW is obtained between 6 & 18 months, minimum 12 points Open Shows, minimum 12 points Ch Shows, total points needed 25. JW winners now awarded Stud Book number and hence automatic life admission to Crufts. Other titles exist, generally for breeds other than the Afghan, such as OB CH (Obedience), FT CH (Field Trials) etc.

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